Denkyira-Obuasi to Obuasi 'galamsey' tragedy?
It has been described variously as “Black-Wednesday,” “Dark-Wednesday,” “Wicked-Wednesday,” etc.
Whatever name may be given it, Wednesday, August 6, 2025, will go down in history as one of Ghana’s darkest days.
A Ghana Air Force Harbin Z-9 helicopter with a crew of three and five passengers flying from Accra to Obuasi for a galamsey programme crashed at Akrofuom, ten kilometres from Obuasi, as the crow flies, killing all on board.
The government delegation of five comprised the Minister of Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, and the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed. Others were Dr S. S. Sarpong, Alhaji Limuna Muniru and Mr Samuel Aboagye.
The aircrew comprised the captain, Sqn Ldr Peter Anala; a co-pilot, Flying-Officer Twum Ampadu, and a technician, Sgt Ernest Addo Mensah.
Death
In his book titled Allan Quartermain, English author Sir Rider Haggard states: “The great wheel of fate rolls on like a Juggernaut and crushes us all in turn, some soon, some late! It does not matter when. In the end, it crushes us all.”
Fatalistic as this might sound and difficult as it is to understand, it summarises the hard reality of the mystery of death.
Shakespeare, in his tragedy Macbeth, states: “Life is but a walking shadow.
A poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more. It is a tale full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
Indeed, in James 4:14, the Bible describes life as a little “vapour” which appears for a little while, and then vanishes.
In all three quotes above, from the Bible, Shakespeare and Sir Rider Haggard, the fleeting and temporary nature of life is emphasised.
Life is short! When all eight husbands left home, saying goodbye to their wives on the morning of August 6, 2025, they believed they would be home for dinner.
Alas! Galamsey did not allow them!
Discussion
“Galamsey” is an existential threat which is destroying us! In a recent article titled Digging our own graves, I stated:
In the words of anti-galamsey crusader journalist Erastus Asare Donkor, galamsey is the result of failed leadership.
Galamsey is a national disgrace! Galamsey is a dishonourable legacy!
Have we become an “Esau-Republic” selling our birthright to foreigners for diseases/extinction? How low we have sunk!
Dr (Med) Vortia’s article, which likens deliberate galamsey to the accidental nuclear disaster of Chernobyl, USSR in 1986, is the latest wake-up call to all Ghanaians, particularly the government and the greedy financiers.
Has the self-destruct button been pressed? Remember UN Secretary-General Guterres’ warning on environmental degradation, saying, “We are digging our own graves! Either we stop it, or it stops us!”
Denyira-Obuasi to Obuasi
While serving in Kenya in 2017, a colleague Kenyan General rang for a confirmation of the murder of Capt. Mahama by some villagers at Denkyira-Obuasi.
When I confirmed it, his question was: “Is that wicked village still on the map of Ghana?”
For him, the thought that villagers would kill a soldier on duty to preserve the environment was simply inconceivable.
Such murderous villages have no right to exist and should disappear!
Nine years later in Ghana, eight souls have perished in their patriotic journey to launch a bold initiative to fight illegal mining/galamsey.
What else do we need to declare a full-scale war on galamsey?
Politicians have pussyfooted for too long, with disastrous consequences. Elder statesman Mr Kwame Pianim states that the declaration must be immediate! Halting galamsey is the greatest honour Ghana can do to the memory of these eight gallant patriots.
They must not die in vain!
Dr Tony Aidoo, Madame Joyce Aryee and Prof. Kofi Abotsi all recently said on the radio that the deaths were “avoidable!” Why?
Simple! Without galamsey, probably this accident might not have happened.
A politician on the programme advised his chronically fault-finding colleagues on every issue in the two major parties, saying, “Let us stop this hypocrisy!”
Ghana is a nation, and not a political party state, swinging acrimoniously every eight years between the two, each dedicated to undermining/sabotaging the other when in opposition.
Let us be gentle and tolerant of one another!
Mr President, please stop galamsey now! It has damaged us enough! Do not let it destroy Ghana. To do this, please retool the Ghana Armed Forces.
May the souls of Dr Omane Boamah, Dr Murtala Mohammed, Alhaji Lemuna Muniru, Dr S. S. Sarpong, Samuel Aboagye, Sqn Ldr Anala, Flying-Officer Twum Ampadu and Sgt Ernest Addo Mensah rest in peace!
Similarly, may the souls of the 16 children of the Obogu Saviours Church, who died in a road traffic accident at Atwedie on the Accra-Kumasi Highway on July 28, 2025, rest in peace!
Leadership, lead by example/integrity! Fellow Ghanaians, wake up!
The writer is a former CEO, African Peace Support Trainers Association, Nairobi, Kenya and Council Chairman, Family Health University, Accra
Email: dkfrimpong@yahoo.com
